Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Luther Seminary announced today that it has reached an agreement to sell land to HealthPartners. The land, which is across the street and on the north side of HealthPartners Como Clinic, will be the new location for the current clinic.
The land purchase is part of Luther Seminary’s plan for long-term development. These plans include a senior housing project with 49 units that will be built by Ecumen and other renovations to the campus.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with two well-respected organizations,” said Robin Steinke, Luther Seminary president. “We are excited about how their work will enhance both the Luther Seminary campus and the surrounding communities.”
Como Clinic opened in 1957 as the first clinic for what was then Group Health. It was a new model that provided both medical care and health care financing. The model focused on prevention and maintaining health as a way to reduce medical expenses and make care more affordable. In 1992, Group Health merged with MedCenters to become HealthPartners.
“Como Clinic represents the roots of our organization, and we are pleased to partner with Luther Seminary and Ecumen on an investment that will continue to serve the community for decades to come,” said Dr. Beth Averbeck, HealthPartners senior medical director for primary care.
The land deal is HealthPartners’ first step in a multi-year process that will start with extensive community engagement and a thoughtful design phase. Groundbreaking is expected in three to four years and construction will take an estimated 18 months. The current clinic will continue to offer all services until the new facility opens. The new building is expected to be roughly the same size as the current clinic and will offer similar services including primary, specialty and urgent care, dental and pharmacy.
About Luther Seminary
Luther Seminary educates leaders for Christian communities across the country and around the world. As one of the eight seminaries in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Luther Seminary has educated more than one-third of ELCA pastors, lay professionals and leaders of many global Lutheran and ecumenical churches. For more information, visit www.luthersem.edu/
About HealthPartners
HealthPartners is the largest consumer-governed, nonprofit health care organization in the nation with a mission to improve health and well-being in partnership with members, patients and the community. For more information, visit www.healthpartners.com